Wordnik


I have always wondered why some random authority gets to decide which new word gets to become a part of the language. After all, if enough people use the word, it is a part of the language for all practical purposes. Even if it’s only used in some parts of the world, it’s still a word in that part of the world, isn’t it? And isn’t that the purpose of language: to get the message across? So why should only some Brit or American agency get to certify that a word is now a part of the English language?

Many tell me I shouldn't care about this since people already use (and will continue to use) words that fulfill their needs, regardless of what the dictionary says. The problem with that approach is figuring out the meaning of a new word you hear (or more often, read on the Net) but that is not part of any dictionary because it has not yet been accepted by the Keepers of the Language? Are you supposed to wait until it becomes part of the dictionary? Who knows when (or even if) that might happen?

So I was very glad to learn that online dictionaries like Wordnik already address this issue. The site scans the Internet to make a list of all words used. Then it checks whether a word is getting used frequently or not. And the contexts where words are being used: polite or offensive, scientific or general etc. And before you question how an algorithm could possibly find the meaning of anything, remember that Google Translate is done entirely via algorithms and most of us find that pretty good.

It’s good to know that many others didn't want to wait for some language priest to confirm whether or not a new word could enter the pantheon and (unlike me) did something about it.

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